February 25, 2005

Fabis No Longer a Sooner... Still a Dawg

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Fabis Resigns... Still with GA

Newly-hired defensive coach Jon Fabris has resigned from his position at Oklahoma and will return to Georgia. Fabris, who was officially announced as the new Sooner defensive ends coach on Tuesday, cited 'personal matters' as the reason for his decision.

“This is in no way a negative reflection on Oklahoma, Coach (Bob) Stoops or the OU football program,” Fabris said. “I want to be clear about that. Everything has been handled very professionally. I just have some personal matters that need to be addressed. There is no more to it than that.” Stoops said Fabris’ motives were honorable.

Official Release from Sooner Sports

February 22, 2005

DiCarlo Out and UGA's Coach joins Sooner Staff

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Trey Dicarlo Leaves Oklahoma:
Oklahoma place-kicker Trey DiCarlo has left the OU football team. The senior-to-be said the reason is not because he lost his job to true freshman Garrett Hartley last season, but that he's tired of football. "'It's just like there was a personality conflict between me and football," Dicarlo said. "Even if I'd had a good year, I'm not sure if I would have returned. Even after my sophomore season (2003), I was thinking, 'Do I want to do this?"' - (ChannelOklahoma)

Georgia's End Coach Joins Sooners:

For the third time this offseason, the Georgia Bulldogs are trying to replace an assistant coach. Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris is leaving to accept a position at the University of Oklahoma. The move comes after two assistant coaches, defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and running backs coach Ken Rucker left the team in January. Defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner also reportedly had a brief flirtation with LSU before deciding to stay with Georgia. He was promoted to assistant head coach last week.

Former Bulldog end Charles Grant was a first round NFL draft pick after playing for Fabris. All-American David Pollack is projected to become a first-round pick in April. (WNEG)


February 18, 2005

Peterson on ESPN the Magazine... Now on Newsstands

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Each year, ESPN The Magazine's trademark NEXT issue looks ahead to the year that will be and identifies those athletes whose talent and style will shape the landscape of sports in the coming year. Last year, Kazuo Matsui led a group that included Olympic gold medallists Michael Phelps and Jennie Finch as well as soccer prodigy Freddy Adu, and Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova. This year Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson is at the head of the NEXT class.

OVER STORY:

Class Act. True freshman. True prodigy. At 19, Sooners RB Adrian Peterson defied logic and physics to finish second in the Heisman voting. It's star quality and infinite promise that qualify him - and five others - for The Magazine's NEXT Class of 2005. The Magazine's Gene Wojciechowski reports.

NEXT CLASS OF 2005:

What other athletes are on the cusp of shaping sports? What does it take to transcend borders? The Magazine thinks these five athletes are the ones to watch in 2005:

  • Carlos Beltran - The 27-year-old center fielder just signed a seven-year $119 million, no-trade contract with the New York Mets. Ignore the numbers he put up in KC and Houston and watch him run, throw and hit instead. Remember what he did for the Astros last post-season and imagine the highlights-to-come.
  • Sydney Crosby - The 17-year-old Canadian hockey sensation has been dubbed the next Wayne Gretzky. When Crosby's title game jersey was swiped, the hunt for the shirt and the perp was front-page news in Canada. Speculation about where he and his found jersey will play never let's up.
  • Ben Roethlisberger - The 22-year-old rookie quarterback made 2004 a season of firsts - first NFL quarterback to win Rookie of the Year; the first to start his career with 14 consecutive wins; the first rook to lead the league in jersey sales. If he keeps getting better, what will Big Ben do next?
  • Dwayne Wade - At 6'4", Wade possesses both the power and the speed to brush off little guards like flies, muscle to the hoop, absorb contact and still throw down some over-the-shoulder side-ways dunks that will leave you speechless. Wade's smarts plus the addition of a certain big man have put Miami back on the basketball map.
  • Mike Williams - After spending a year on the sideline due to NCAA rules, receiver Williams is poised to become the impact rookie of this year's class. Referred to as a cross between Chris Carter and Michael Irvin, Williams has spent the year working out and prepping for the NFL with the hopes of seeing his name at the top of the draft board.

NEXT Report Card. Okay, so maybe we muffed with Matsui (although Mets fans were certainly complaining, er, talking about him). But last year, as you'll see, NEXT was clearly now.

Million Dollar Baby. Our writer wanted to know what sport his toddler could dominate. So he set out into the brave new world of gene testing. The Magazine's Tom Farrey reports.

Teen Titans. Six-year-old Dylan Oliver calls everyone "dude." We call him good enough to join six teenagers as members of Generation NEXT. The Magazine's Lindsay Berra reports.

February 16, 2005

Oklahoma Sooner Blog

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Welcomet to Oklahoma Sooner Blog, we have updated our comments and trackback system. We lost all previous comments, but we have made Oklahoma Sooner Blog for user friendly. So leave your Sooner Football comments now!

Oklahoman Coach Turns Packers Down

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The Green Bay Packers are examining the ranks of college football for a new wide receivers coach but their first choice reportedly turned them down. Darrell Wyatt, the wide receivers coach at Oklahoma since 2002, said Tuesday that he had been interviewed by coach Sherman in Green Bay last week. He also said he was the first candidate to be interviewed for the job.

"I can't comment further on it," Wyatt said. However, Wyatt told SoonersIllustrated.com that after giving the offer careful consideration he had turned it down to remain on coach Bob Stoops' staff.

(JSOnline)

February 9, 2005

White Named Oklahoma Headliner Again

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White Oklahoma Headliner
Oklahoma quarterback Jason White has been named the Oklahoma Headliner of the Year for a second consecutive year. He was selected by a 10-member panel representing the Oklahoma sports media. The March of Dimes Headliner Awards honor athletes, coaches and teams who have taken center stage and brought national attention to the state of Oklahoma during 2004.

“This past year had so many qualified potential recipients,” said Renzi Stone, president of Saxum Strategic Communications and producer of this year’s event. “Trying to select one winner was difficult. Oklahoma is such an underrated sports state and everyone nominated this year should be commended for their accomplishments and representing our state so well.”
(SoonerSports)

Pelini to LSU - Dallas Morning News Wednesday Edition Reports

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Bo Pelini Will Join LSU - Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma secondary coach Bo Pelini will be announced as the new defensive coordinator at LSU, probably on Thursday, according to a university source.

Pelini could not be reached for comment. Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said Tuesday he had not heard anything official, but he was aware of the speculation.

LSU officials said earlier this week that they would announce new coach Les Miles' staff at a Thursday news conference.

Pelini, 37, accumulated nine years of NFL coaching experience before accepting the defensive coordinator job at Nebraska. He was the Huskers' interim head coach for the 2003 Alamo Bowl. Pelini applied for the permanent coaching job after Frank Solich was fired, but Nebraska eventually hired Bill Callahan.

February 8, 2005

Oklahoma Sooner Articles (Tueday Feb 8)

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Pelini and LSU? - Daily Oklahoman
Les Miles wants Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. At least, that's the informed speculation.

A source within the OU program, as well as a Louisiana source, said Oklahoma State's former coach, now at LSU, has spoken with Pelini recently about the Tigers' vacant defensive coordinator position. It's uncertain whether Pelini has been offered the job. Pelini did not return phone calls Sunday or Monday. When reached by a Louisiana-based reporter, Pelini declined comment on whether he had interviewed.

LSU is expected to announce its finalized staff on Thursday. And perhaps it wouldn't be surprising if Pelini was interested.

February 3, 2005

Oklahoma Sooner Articles Around the nation (Thursday Feb 2)

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Promising Prospects - The Oklahoma Daily

The suspense leading up to national signing day came to an official close Wednesday as 27 prospects inked their names on letters of intent to play football at OU. The new Sooners make this years recruiting class one of the largest and most diverse in head coach Bob Stoops tenure, with prospects from 13 different states.

"We are excited with the number of guys on this list and where they are at physically and what we've evaluated we feel that they can really support what's already here right away," Stoops said.

Newest recruits could be playing for OU in the fall - The Oklahoman

Oklahoma fans waited for Reggie Smith. He doesn't plan to do any waiting of his own. "Im trying to make an impact right away," the Edmond Santa Fe standout said Wednesday. Smith was one of several future Sooners who suggested as much Wednesday.

Here's the thing: Oklahoma coaches have no problem with the idea. Not after signing a class ranked third nationally by Rivals100.com.

Talent always finds a way to play - The Oklahoman

College football is an equal opportunity vocation. Freshmen need not wait their turn. Come one, come all. Step right up and claim a starting spot before you've written your first English essay.

The Sooners unleashed Adrian Peterson last autumn. In 2001, OU trotted out two rookie linemen who cracked the lineup, Tommie Harris and Vince Carter. When linemen storm the gates, you know it's open season. Oklahoma State has relied on true freshmen even more than the Sooners. Nathan Peterson started at defensive end in 2004, Corey Hilliard at offensive tackle in 2003, Vernon Grant at cornerback in 2002 and a Variety of classmates made spot starts as rookies in those seasons.

Santa Fe’s star player wavered until the last minute

Before all the smiles and the handshakes, autograph signing and picture posing, Reggie Smith was just his old self.

Wednesday, before the cameras started popping and the cheers ripped throughout the Edmond Santa Fe High gym on the news that the school's favorite son had chosen Oklahoma to play football, Smith stood by himself, rubbing his head and pacing in the empty gym, unsure of what he would say to the more than 1,000 people who came to hear him.

 The recruiting process that wore Smith down and made the already-private senior even more that way, didn't end until just minutes before he took the microphone and said his intentions.

Oklahoma Sooners Early Morning Articles (Thursday Feb 3)

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Thursday Morning Sooner Articles

Sooner signees come from far and wide - Norman Transcipt
The Switzer Center fax machine worked overtime national signing day Wednesday, a day Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops hopes will be remembered for some time. The Sooners signed 27 players to national letters of intent on signing day, filling the programs' coffers with another highly-touted recruiting class.
OU signs defensive support - Oklahoma Daily
Edmond Santa Fe defensive back Reggie Smith said he didn’t know which college he would attend until 10 minutes before his Wednesday morning announcement. However, he said his decision was down to OU and USC. Fortunately for the Sooners, Wednesday’s result was different than the Orange Bowl's. Smith, a highly-touted, do-everything player said he would be coming to OU in front of his classmates at the Santa Fe High School gym. “I’ve decided to stay here and go to Oklahoma” he said. His decision helped give OU the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation according to Rivals.com. Scout.com has OU's recruiting class at No. 4.

February 2, 2005

Oklahoma Land Big With Recruits

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Oklahoma Lands 27 Prospects:
Oklahoma Sooners had a impressive signing day, signing a pair of the nations top linebackers and defensive backs also the nations top defensive tackle. Oklahoma signed native and highly touted Reggie Smith in addition, to Texas's Keenan Clayton a pair of top 4 safeties. Oklahoma's defensive prospects get more impressive signing a string of linebackers in the top 10 including two in top 4. Oklahoma's top recruit will anchor the defensive of line, 6'1 315 DeMarcus Granger is the top defensive tackle in the nation. Checkout our recruiting page for more information.

Articles On Oklahoma Recruting:
Sooners' class spans nation: Daily Oklahoman
 Oklahoma reigned in another group of talented high-school players in a far-reaching recruiting effort that coach Bob Stoops touted Wednesday as one of the school's best. The Sooners, fresh off their third appearance in the BCS title game in five years, pulled in 24 high-school players and three junior college transfers to reload a team that loses seven starters on offense, including quarterback Jason White.

Stoops says 2005 class one of his best: Sooners Illustrated
 Checkout Bob Stoops Quotes during Feb 2 Press Conference regarding recruits.

Signing day notepad: Norman Transcript
There weren’t many disappointments on this signing day for the Sooners. In fact, by the end of the day, Antonio Clay’s defection to Clemson was quickly forgotten when the Sooners landed virtually every player left on their board and even one, Aaron Cummings, who was on the outside looking in.

Opening Statement
"Very pleased to announce our 2005 signees. These players are our future and committed to come to Oklahoma. Really excited about this group of guys, it’s a good number of guys with great character.

"Academically, we feel like this is one of our strongest classes. Really sharp group of young men. We signed guys from 13 different states, 16 different players are in the top position in their states, so that speaks to how this group stacks up nationally. And it doesn’t make it any easier to recruit them because we are working against the top teams in the nation to get them.

On the safety class:
"They are a great group of guys. You look at all those secondary guys and they all have size, speed and ability. They are also a very athletic group. The fact that we play three safeties quite often, all these guys are going to get the chance to compete right away."

On the linebacker class:
"Really an exceptional group. All have the size and speed that you look for. As you come to be around them you’ll see that they really are a group of characters, with great personalities, and all have high grade points as well. They all have a lot of energy and all are good leaders."

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